Julen Lopetegui has left West Ham fans baffled with some of his team selections so far but that must change for Chelsea.
Football fans don’t necessarily always know what’s best but West Ham’s are among the more clued up.
As well as being fiercely loyal, Hammers supporters know what they want.
That’s why David Moyes is no longer at the club.
West Ham fans want to be entertained and excited going to games.
Moyes gave the Hammers some of their best years and memories in the club’s modern history.
But more often than not it came at the expense of all that.
He made West Ham harder to beat and more competitive but with a risk averse, cautious approach.
When it was getting results it was acceptable. But when it became a busted flush Hammers supporters soon realised watching good, attacking football in line with the club’s traditions was just as important to them.
West Ham welcome Chelsea to the London Stadium in the Premier League with Moyes’ replacement Julen Lopetegui already feeling some heat.
Lopetegui must avoid alienating West Ham fans
Hammers fans aren’t stupid. They knew their new-look squad under a new manager might be a work in progress for a time.
But seeing other managers at rival clubs make their mark quickly and effectively on how their teams play has some at West Ham expecting similar from Lopetegui.
Thus far it has been an inauspicious start to life in east London for the Spaniard.
Two wins, two defeats and a draw in all competitions is evidence of that.
Lopetegui’s team selections have frustrated and confused many fans, though.
While supporters will show patience with the ex Spain boss, the starting line-up at Fulham sparked angry reactions.
Especially as West Ham went on to turn in one of the worst halves of football seen in recent times.
Supporters proved right over baffling Hammers line-up at Fulham
Irons fans were baffled that Michail Antonio, Tomas Soucek and – to a lesser degree – Konstantinos Mavropanos were in the team.
They all had poor games, with Antonio and Soucek hauled off at half-time while Mavropanos was at fault for the Fulham goal.
Modern football is a fickle industry and patience is becoming an increasingly rare virtue.
So Lopetegui must avoid alienating West Ham fans and listen to their calls for Chelsea.
It looks highly unlikely striker Niclas Fullkrug will be fit after missing the last game with injury.
A decision was due to be made on the German on Friday.
Although another injured star who has been missing from training looks likely to be back involved if Emerson Palmieri’s social media activity is anything to go by.
Lopetegui must listen to West Ham fan calls for Chelsea
The reason many West Ham fans were so annoyed by Lopetegui’s line-up at Fulham was because they thought he would finally transition the team with the new signings following the international break.
Now that’s what he needs to do for Chelsea.
Lopetegui needs to get a move on shifting to a new-look West Ham.
And that means making three very easy changes for Chelsea.
Providing Emerson is indeed available and assuming Fullkrug isn’t, Lopetegui must drop Antonio, Soucek and Mavropanos.
Crysencio Summerville, Lucas Paqueta and Jean-Clair Todibo need to come in from the start.
Crucially, though, Jarrod Bowen must go up front with Mohammed Kudus switching over to the right.
That leaves the West Ham starting XI looking like this for Chelsea – and there’s no doubt it’s the strongest available team.
Areola, Wan-Bissaka, Todibo, Kilman, Emerson, Rodriguez, Alvarez, Paqueta, Summerville, Kudus, Bowen.
More messing around and persisting with the old guard or playing Kudus off the left will see the patience of West Ham fans wear thin very quickly.
After seeing the club hire a new manager on the promise of better football and spending £155m on nine players to help facilitate that, supporters want to see something they can get behind.
Starting against Chelsea at the London Stadium on Saturday lunchtime.
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